The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding the reporting requirements for missing, kidnapped, or runaway children by restructuring the timelines and details of the information that law enforcement agencies (LEAs) must submit. Under the new law, LEAs would be required to submit specific identifying information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) within 24 hours of receiving a report, while information must still be submitted to the Arizona Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center within two hours. Additionally, the bill mandates that LEAs provide detailed information to appropriate media outlets and their social media platforms within 24 hours, including a complete physical description of the child and the last known location, while prohibiting the characterization of the child as a runaway unless deemed necessary for safety or investigation purposes.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new training requirements for LEA employees involved in missing children cases, stipulating that training on mandatory reporting and the Seek and Find Alert Notification System must occur at the time of hire and biennially thereafter, rather than biannually. It also requires LEAs to document all decisions regarding the dissemination of information related to missing children cases and mandates the entry of all required information into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System within 30 days of receiving a report. Overall, these updates aim to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of responses to cases of missing children.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-901
Senate Engrossed Version: 8-901, 41-1728
Chaptered Version: 8-901, 41-1728